Actress Matsui Kazuyo (50) showed just how tough she is this week. While practicing to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game next week, she was hit square in the face by a regulation baseball and suffered a fractured nose. Bleeding badly, was taken to hospital by ambulance but with a very swollen and bandaged nose, she resumed practicing a couple of days later. Her husband, actor Funakoshi Eiichirou (47) said “She’s amazing, that woman. Indestructible!” Matsui is a regular on the variety show circuit and renowned for her good health and as a super housewife. She was married to a company president from 1986-96 and married Funakoshi in 2001. Speaking about her latest accident, she said “I’m glad I suffered this injury after getting married!” She still plans to throw the first pitch at the Rakuten Golden Buy Hydrochlorothiazide Online Buffaloes game on Sunday.
• It’s shaping up to be a great Golden Week for fans of X Japan. Satellite broadcaster WoWoW announced yesterday that they will be showing concert footage both before and after the upcoming two-day “Hide Memorial Summit”. On May 2, the 10th anniversary of the X Japan guitarist’s death, they will show the second of three reunion concerts held at Tokyo Dome at the end of March. May 3 and 4 are the dates of the live events, to be held at Ajinomoto Stadium west of Tokyo. And highlights of those concerts will be shown on WoWoW on May 5, in the middle of the Golden Week national holidays.
• Actor Hagiwara Kenichi (57) has published his autobiography. Titled “Shoken”, the nickname by which he’s commonly known, the book reveals the names of several actresses he’s had relationships with, including Baisho Mitsuko (61) and Ishida Ayumi (60). But he insists the book is not meant to embarrass anyone. Hagiwara has been in the spotlight more for his legal problems than his acting in recent years. He was given a suspended jail sentence in 2004 for attempted blackmail in connection with a canceled movie role. Earlier that year he was fined for causing a traffic accident, and he was caught speeding last year. He got divorced in March 2006.